Application Guide
How to Apply for Stop Data Centers Organizing Fellow
at Food & Water Watch
🏢 About Food & Water Watch
Food & Water Watch is a national advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring safe food, clean water, and a livable climate. They uniquely combine grassroots organizing with policy advocacy, building power at the local and state levels to challenge corporate influence. Working here means joining a passionate team that fights for environmental and social justice, with a strong focus on community engagement.
About This Role
As a Stop Data Centers Organizing Fellow, you'll be at the forefront of a critical environmental justice issue in California's Central Valley. You'll engage directly with communities facing water scarcity, organizing them to push back against the proliferation of data centers that threaten their resources. This role is impactful because it combines on-the-ground community outreach with broader advocacy efforts, giving you hands-on experience in environmental organizing.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a team check-in to discuss outreach targets and strategies. Then, you'll head out to a neighborhood in Bakersfield or a nearby county, knocking on doors to talk with residents about how data centers exacerbate water scarcity. In the afternoon, you might make phone calls to volunteers or community members, and end the day by logging your interactions and reporting back to your supervisor.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Food & Water Watch Is Looking For
- -
- D
- e
- e
- p
- l
- y
- p
- a
- s
- s
- i
- o
- n
- a
- t
- e
- a
- b
- o
- u
- t
- e
- n
- v
- i
- r
- o
- n
- m
- e
- n
- t
- a
- l
- j
- u
- s
- t
- i
- c
- e
- a
- n
- d
- c
- o
- m
- m
- u
- n
- i
- t
- y
- o
- r
- g
- a
- n
- i
- z
- i
- n
- g
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- a
- c
- o
- m
- m
- i
- t
- m
- e
- n
- t
- t
- o
- p
- r
- o
- t
- e
- c
- t
- i
- n
- g
- n
- a
- t
- u
- r
- a
- l
- r
- e
- s
- o
- u
- r
- c
- e
- s
- .
- -
- E
- x
- c
- e
- l
- l
- e
- n
- t
- i
- n
- t
- e
- r
- p
- e
- r
- s
- o
- n
- a
- l
- a
- n
- d
- c
- o
- m
- m
- u
- n
- i
- c
- a
- t
- i
- o
- n
- s
- k
- i
- l
- l
- s
- ,
- c
- o
- m
- f
- o
- r
- t
- a
- b
- l
- e
- e
- n
- g
- a
- g
- i
- n
- g
- w
- i
- t
- h
- d
- i
- v
- e
- r
- s
- e
- c
- o
- m
- m
- u
- n
- i
- t
- i
- e
- s
- t
- h
- r
- o
- u
- g
- h
- p
- h
- o
- n
- e
- b
- a
- n
- k
- i
- n
- g
- a
- n
- d
- d
- o
- o
- r
- -
- t
- o
- -
- d
- o
- o
- r
- c
- a
- n
- v
- a
- s
- s
- i
- n
- g
- .
- -
- S
- e
- l
- f
- -
- m
- o
- t
- i
- v
- a
- t
- e
- d
- a
- n
- d
- a
- b
- l
- e
- t
- o
- w
- o
- r
- k
- i
- n
- d
- e
- p
- e
- n
- d
- e
- n
- t
- l
- y
- ,
- w
- h
- i
- l
- e
- a
- l
- s
- o
- b
- e
- i
- n
- g
- a
- c
- o
- l
- l
- a
- b
- o
- r
- a
- t
- i
- v
- e
- t
- e
- a
- m
- p
- l
- a
- y
- e
- r
- .
- -
- F
- a
- m
- i
- l
- i
- a
- r
- i
- t
- y
- w
- i
- t
- h
- t
- h
- e
- C
- e
- n
- t
- r
- a
- l
- V
- a
- l
- l
- e
- y
- r
- e
- g
- i
- o
- n
- ,
- i
- t
- s
- c
- o
- m
- m
- u
- n
- i
- t
- i
- e
- s
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- t
- h
- e
- l
- o
- c
- a
- l
- w
- a
- t
- e
- r
- i
- s
- s
- u
- e
- s
- i
- s
- a
- s
- t
- r
- o
- n
- g
- p
- l
- u
- s
- .
📝 Tips for Applying to Food & Water Watch
Tailor your resume to highlight any relevant experience in community organizing, canvassing, or environmental advocacy, even if it's volunteer work.
Include a cover letter that explicitly mentions your connection to the Central Valley or your understanding of the water scarcity issues there.
Demonstrate your availability for the full duration of the fellowship (through November 3) and your flexibility with hours.
Showcase any experience with phonebanking, door-to-door outreach, or using digital organizing tools.
Research Food & Water Watch's current campaigns and mention them in your application to show you've done your homework.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
- Express your passion for stopping data centers and protecting water resources in the Central Valley. - Highlight your ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and your commitment to grassroots change. - Mention any relevant skills like canvassing, phonebanking, or community outreach. - Emphasize your alignment with Food & Water Watch's mission and your eagerness to contribute to their on-the-ground work.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read about the data center boom in California's Central Valley and its environmental impacts, especially on water usage.
- → Explore Food & Water Watch's website to understand their current campaigns, particularly the 'Stop Data Centers' initiative.
- → Look into recent news articles about community opposition to data centers in Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties.
- → Familiarize yourself with the organization's history and its broader mission of fighting for clean water and a livable climate.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't show specific knowledge of the Central Valley or data center issues.
- Underestimating the physical and emotional demands of canvassing and phonebanking; be honest about your readiness.
- Failing to demonstrate a long-term commitment to environmental justice or a clear reason for wanting to work with Food & Water Watch specifically.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Food & Water Watch!